Sunday, May 25, 2008

I mentioned earlier that I spent a few years in the retail end of the "Adult" entertainment business. This is a picture of me with Racquel Darrian. Taken at the CES in Las Vegas in 1994. The guy in the rear was her husband at the time, Brad. She is out of the video business but still occasionally performs around the country at the more up-scale strip clubs. She lives in Las Vegas and will turn 40 on July 21st. When I knew her, she was a very sweet girl. Thats back when I used to smile.

I've got to stop wasting so much time as I redistribute my life into various piles, but I had to share.

For years, crystal skulls were touted as being found in ancient Mayan ruins and held mystical powers. Possibly created by aliens. Its, of course, all a bunch of bunk. Most were created in the latter part of the 20th century, when crystals and "New Age" religion became popular.

The Universe, our EVERYTHING, is still the subject of debate among astronomers. Infinite or finite? Large or small? What is it shaped like? This is one group's minority opinion.

Back in 1989 a group of scientists claimed to have created "cold-fusion". One of the principals of the scientific method is that an experiment has to be able to be replicated by others. Thus "cold-fusion" became the catch word for pathologically bad science. But that hasn't deterred some researchers from continued study. And they may have just found something.

Seismologists now seem pretty confident that large earthquakes in one part of the world may be the trigger for temblors in other areas of the globe.

California, like a lot of states, is facing a budget shortfall. One of the proposed patch jobs would be to levy a 25% tax on production costs and retail sales of porn. This would, of course, just be passed down the line to the consumer. The last I checked, porn is a $9-$10 billion a year industry. You can create your own "size matters" joke if you wish.

On this day, in 1961, President John F. Kennedy made his appeal to the American people to send a man to the moon and return him safely. Exactly 16 years later, Star Wars debuted nationally. May the force be with you.

Are you trying to quit smoling? Are you using Chantix? If so, please do not operate heavy equipment, motor vehicles or anything else that requires an alert mind. I think meat packers/butchers and barbers might take note also.

Since opening nationwide on Thursday past, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has chalked up $126 million. By the end of the Memorial Day weekend, it is estimated that it will have generated $151 million in ticket sales. You know the studios are looking at another sequel because you don't walk away from big money. But with Harrison Ford getting a wee bit long in the tooth, the next one may be called Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Golden Walker.

The GOP National leadership is worried that McCain's portrayal of himself as being a political "maverick" is getting too real. I mean he (gasp) removed all lobbyists from his paid campaign staff. How can he be a candidate if the power brokers can't control him? The wheelers and dealers inside the beltway are quaking in their boots Guccis. The national leadership is also dismayed that McCain isn't taking as great of an advantage as possible in the on going Obama/Clinton feud. They also question the wisdom of dividing his campaign into 10 autonomous regions rather than maintaining ironfisted central control. And he is refusing endorsements from the powerful bible-belt leaders.

Gee. Maybe he is a maverick.

While officially being denied as a series of job interviews for the VP position on McCain's ticket, the attendees of a friendly BBQ at McCain's Sedona AZ ranch this weekend were certainly among the "A-list" of speculated running mates. Significant among the names of the not invited was that of Condoleezza Rice. our current Secretary of State.

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Puerto Rico is basking in its brief new found importance. For the first time, in my memory, candidates for a national political office are actually campaigning there. With just a little over a week to go in the race for the Democratic nomination, both candidates can't afford to lose any potential delegates or total popular vote.

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The recent report released by the Justice Department Inspector General has, in my opinion, enough documented details to warrant a criminal investigation to be initiated against current and former members of the Bush Administration. It details criminal activity from Dubya on down through many members of his Cabinet. Noted is the strong objections raised by former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who didn't survive into "fearless leaders" second term.

Obviously there will be no action at this time but if a Democrat is elected in November there is the possibility of Bush being the first President to serve his retirement years behind bars. Hopefully at a detainee center in Iraq, Afghanistan, Cuba or any of the secret ones we have no certain knowledge of. That would satisfy a certain symmetry of justice. And teach future leaders that they are bound by the law, not above it.

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35 years ago a film by an unknown director, featuring a cast of unknown actors made its debut with the sub-title "Where were you in '62?".

The film's setting was a bucolic town in the central valley of California and was the director's actual hometown. The plot dealt with teenage angst of graduating high school and entering the world of adulthood. It dealt with the California tradition of "cruising" the main street of the community on a weekend night. In search of love, adventure and dreams. You may have seen the movie.

The events portrayed in the film became an iconic event for the town as the years passed. Cruising on the weekend following graduation became an unsanctioned event that grew to massive proportions. Strapping the limited resources of the community to accommodate the massive volumes of traffic, crowds and growing criminal activity. Unable to ban the impromtu event, the city turned it into a premiere tourist attraction. Originally called "Graffiti Night", "Graffiti Summer" now kicks off on May 31st. The theme is nostalgia and the events include car shows, period music concerts, costume contests and, of course, the traditional "Cruise".

American Graffiti was nominated for 5 Academy Awards and, in 1995, was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress, and was added to the National Film Registry for preservation.

Modesto is my destination later this week.

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I hope you are enjoying your 3-day weekend. Thanks much for taking the time to stop by here. I'll be back later with more.